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Post by Mighty Jack on Sept 28, 2012 3:27:05 GMT -5
Transmetropolitan vol. 2 by Warren Ellis, art by Darick Robertson Significantly better than vol 2. Thought it is still maddeningly black and white when dealing with politics and religion, it doesn't harp on those subjects in the same way it did in Vol 1.
The book is audacious and funny, but also makes a few sad social statements (especially in a story about people who had themselves frozen and are brought back to life in in this new world. They are completely lost and unwanted)
Vampirella Lives by Warren Ellis, art by Amanda Conner Pretty weak Ellis - many plot lines were used in the Blade movie (though maybe Warren was stealing ideas from a previous Blade comic book story?). Interesting for Amanda's art - which is darker and more shadowy that what I'm used to seeing. It's good, though she's probably not the best fit for the horror genre (like Colan or Mandrake were)
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Post by Mighty Jack on Oct 11, 2012 23:41:19 GMT -5
Marvel Now began its official launch with 2 titles. These are the first monthly Marvel books I have purchased in a year (I have picked up the trades for Daredevil and Winter Solider, both of which were solid). Even though I wasn’t enjoying what I was reading from the big M in 2011-12 and was getting a kick out of DCs New 52 (which ate up my periodicals budget), for an old Marvel man I admit I missed the old gang and was looking forward to visiting them again. Uncanny Avengers gets things started. In the aftermath of the Avengers/X-Men war we see an attempt to patch things up by creating a new team comprised of both Avengers (Thor, Cap. America, Scarlet Witch) and X-Men (Havoc, Rogue and Wolverine). The book boasts some talent. Artist John Cassaday came out of semi-retirement and his work is a sight for sore eyes. Writer Rick Remender's first issue isn't a knockout, as he is saddled with the task of setting up the premise and the team (which he does nicely. I didn't feel lost). It was a good read and shows the promise of being even better once he gets into the groove of the story (which involves a mutant hating Red Skull). At $4 a copy I'm not adding it to my pulls list, though a TPB buy in the future is a definite possibility. Red She-Hulk doesn't start at issue #1, which seems strange to me, as anything-tagged "first issue" is a sales draw. Instead the numbering takes over from Red Hulk (who is off to join the Thunderbolts) at #58. Written by Jeff Parker (who I know best for his delightful "Agents of Atlas" series). Parker gives us the rundown on Red’s origins, which was appreciated -- but he also plops us right in the middle of a conflict, and since I don’t know who General Fortean is I struggled –initially- to understand why he was the baddie (She-Hulk jumps in and beats the living tar out of everyone - so at first glance, she comes off more the villain). There's nothing deep in this issue, is just a good action packed throw down. I enjoyed it a lot. The art by Pagulayan and Alves is crisp and clear. Some of Parker’s dialog is kind of corny. This worked okay in Atlas, as it was an old-fashioned type comic. But set in the slick modern Marvel universe it was awkward. Still, I liked it and will be back for more (and hey, it has Machine Man in it, always a plus with me) Next week Marvel Now Point One #1 will be released. I don’t know what that is; I gather it’s a clean up/follow up for AvX. Then on October 31st is the new team up book A+X #1. Which offers 2 stories where we get an Avenger and a Mutant working side by side. First issue will have Hulk/Wolverine and Cap America/Cable. I’m not planning to buy either. In November they launch Deadpool #1 (the preview looks pretty funny, one of the co-writers is comedian Brian Posehn). Iron Man #1 with a new creative team (thank God! Maybe now I can get back to reading it without the urge to puke). Mark Waid takes on the Hulk (who is now a SHIELD agent?) and All-New X-Men brings back the original team from the 60s. Cap, Thor and the F4 also get new #1s and new creative teams). And there’s something titled X-Men Legacy. In December and January they will continue to introduce new titles and new #1s to the line. Oh, and there are rumors milling about that Spider-Man is due for a big change, which some speculate as Peter Parker either retiring or dying in issue 700. Frankly if that’s true – well, screw you Marvel -- No Parker, no purchase... period!
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Torgo
Moderator Emeritus
-segment with Crow?
Posts: 15,420
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Post by Torgo on Oct 12, 2012 12:48:42 GMT -5
Peter isn't dying (outside of Ultimate, that is). They've already announced his new book, called the Superior Spider-Man, which will debut next year if I remember correctly.
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Post by Mighty Jack on Oct 13, 2012 0:04:49 GMT -5
I'm hoping writer Dan Slott is just messing with our heads. But the new costume looks horrid (is the "big toe footwear" for the retractible claws Slott spoke of) and I don't like the idea of the title going grimdark and losing the humor (let alone not having Peter in the suit). The NYCC has it's Spider-Man panel on Sunday. Might get some clairty as to plans for the the new title then?
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Post by Mighty Jack on Oct 14, 2012 16:57:25 GMT -5
Journey Into Mystery: Fear Itself I haven’t read Thor is ages and found myself in the dark going into this series. Thankfully there’s a quick overview at the end to take me through the convoluted history. JIM gives us a reincarnated teen Loki who takes it upon himself to save Asgard, which he does behind the scenes as Thor, Odin and the Avengers engage in an epic –end of the world- event. The event, like most events was your standard big noisy, bloody fare. I read some of it when it was released and yawned. I should have been checking out this title instead because Loki’s machinations made for a clever, completely captivating tale that was funny as hell. Seeing young Loki uses guile instead of muscle to get what he wants made for a great read,
Written by Kieron Gillen, I can’t wait for more (I have vol. 2 and 3 coming from the library, unfortunately they don’t carry any volumes after that)
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NYCC pretty much gave us dick on Spider-Man (a lot of double talk) and not much on DCs 4th Wave cancellations and additions (other than a new Keith Giffen space adventure titled "Threshold").
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Post by Mighty Jack on Nov 8, 2012 0:32:27 GMT -5
More Marvel Nows were released
Iron Man #1 was a bust for me. Maybe writer Gillen has something fresh up his sleeve, but the opening premise is stale. I've seen this sooooo often -- not just with extremis but the 2 Armor Wars. Stark fighting to keep his tech out of others hands... yawn. Been there, done that, many, many, many times over and there's no new spin on it --- or really anything that stood out in this thing. Artist Greg Land's figures all look like mannequins.
Deadpool #1 though was a riot. I loved it and laughed my butt off. Now I've never read a Deadpool comic before, so maybe this is old hat for old readers, or not as good as past adventures, I don't know. But as new reader it was a kick. Great irreverent fun. One of the best reads this week.
I've also finished the first 3 volumes of Oni Press' The Sixth Gun which is a supernatural western. It wasn't a work of genius, but was rock solid and entertaining all told. I enjoyed them.
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Post by Mighty Jack on Nov 17, 2012 5:14:46 GMT -5
I just discovered my new favorite comic.
Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. - collected edition From Warren Ellis, art by Stuart Immonen. This is absolutely insane tale of a group of C-List heroes (from the Marvel U) who square off against weapons created by a terrorist organization, which include giant robots, homicide crabs and broccoli men. It's in bad taste, absurd, violent and had me laughing so hard I was squeezing tears from my eyes.
The only bummer about it is that there are only 12 issues.
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Post by Mighty Jack on Dec 21, 2012 5:50:01 GMT -5
Well after 2 months, Marvel Now has underwhelemed. I was looking forward to the various creative shuffles - but so far The X and Avenger titles have been merely okay -- and basically that's what dominates Marvel these days. Man, there are a LOT of Avenger books.
What I have liked comes from Asgard. Thor: God of Thunder and Journey Into Mystery (which now turns its focus towards Lady Sif) have been stellar. I'm also still digging Red She-Hulk.
Deadpool? That went into the toilet real fast. I've dropped it. And so far Matt Fraction is doing his 'farting around' thing with his Fantastic Four books. Mike Allred's art is why I'm sticking around on "FF".
I took a pass on the new Hulk and Cap. America book (neither is a favorite character) but if notices are high I'll check out the collected editions later.
Oh, and on December 26th, it's the release of 700th (and last) issue of Amazing Spider-Man.
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Post by Mighty Jack on Dec 27, 2012 2:31:14 GMT -5
Peter isn't dying (outside of Ultimate, that is). They've already announced his new book, called the Superior Spider-Man, which will debut next year if I remember correctly. Uh-Um, You were saying? now.msn.com/peter-parker-killed-off-in-final-amazing-spider-man-issueIt was an okay issue, though I wasn't happy with the outcome. Oh well, these things never stick for long in comics.
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Post by Don Quixote on Jan 3, 2013 21:08:23 GMT -5
I just discovered my new favorite comic. Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. - collected editionFrom Warren Ellis, art by Stuart Immonen. This is absolutely insane tale of a group of C-List heroes (from the Marvel U) who square off against weapons created by a terrorist organization, which include giant robots, homicide crabs and broccoli men. It's in bad taste, absurd, violent and had me laughing so hard I was squeezing tears from my eyes. The only bummer about it is that there are only 12 issues. Nextwave is one of my very favorite comic stories. Bat-s*@t insane plot, and that scene with Dirk Anger and the gigantic gun chair is probably one of my very favorite comic panels of all time.
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Post by Mighty Jack on Jan 4, 2013 7:11:02 GMT -5
^I think my favorite bit was when Tabitha and Machine Man start kicking the cop... I lost it with that. Oh and then Tabby blows up the cat. "Tick, tick, tick... Boom!" I love that gal, she was a hoot (btw - it was an evil cat, for any animal lover who got upset reading that)
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Post by Mighty Jack on Jan 30, 2013 2:47:43 GMT -5
Hey kids, it's time for scary noir from Image comics! Revival #6 Tim Seeley's 'back from the dead' rural horror noir, continues to be creepy and gripping. There is so much going on in this series that it can be difficult to remember what I read the previous month and keep track of it all - but this issue was tight. Plus I loved that Jenny Frison cover... I like the subtle chilliness of it. That creepy look in her eyes. The muted colors juxtaposed to the splashes of blood red in the clothes etc. Amazon has the collected edition (#1-5, plus free comic book day preview) on sale for $8.16. So it's a good time to jump on the book... Amazon.com: Revival Vol 1: Your Among FriendsSpeaking of Image, the 2nd vol of Fatale showed up in the mail a few weeks back. It's 'James M. Cain meets Lovecraft', nice pulpy crime noir horror. I do wonder how much further writer Ed Brubaker can go with this. Vol 2 is a lot like vol 1, and the idea of 'guy trying to protect alluring woman from cult' can only be repeated so often. But so far it's gold.
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Post by Mighty Jack on Mar 6, 2013 0:46:25 GMT -5
Spoke of this elsewhere, but since I just read it again I'll share it here... Picked up the Alabaster Wolves HC collection. Which was a nice Southern horror story about a little albino girl who -as instructed by an angel- tracks down and kills monsters. We've seen this theme before: Buffy, Hack/Slash... but the dialog and story was strong, the characters well formed and interesting -- and the simple line work married to deep shadowy inks added much to the ambiance of the piece. Recommended.
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Post by Mighty Jack on Mar 9, 2013 3:26:48 GMT -5
I found this used, it collects all the early Jack Staff B&W comics. I tells of Britain's greatest hero, who returns after a long retirement. I've never read Paul Grist before but heard good things. His art is pretty simplistic, but not bad. The story is breezy and fun. Rather old school (meaning not grim and gritty). In addition to the usual superheroics, there are supernatural elements - Vampires, werewolves and a secret X-Files like group, etc. I enjoyed it, though I found the writing style disorienting. Grist is all over the place, bouncing quickly from one story to the next -- introducing new characters and plot lines at a dizzying clip. I wish he be a bit more straight forward, as I'd just get into one sub-plot and then he would be off and running on another... but it was entertaining none the less. I'd like to try his Mudman series next.
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Post by Mighty Jack on Mar 29, 2013 2:36:28 GMT -5
A couple of TPB came in the mail... I really hate Fraction's penchant for repeating words and phrases - drives me nuts. And thanks to this title I've just discovered how much I loath the word "bro". Other than that, this was a fun adventure. Clint is a likable lunkhead, but what makes the series sing, is his partnership with that 'other' Hawkeye, Kate Bishop. Once we got past the first issue Russian thug nonsense and zeroed in on her, the book took off for me. I hope she's around for the long haul. I'll pick up vol 2 for sure. But Matt, could you lay off the repetition? It's really annoying, really... really... I mean really REALLY annoying. Really. Bro? Paul Grist offers up his version of the teen hero with a strange power. It's lighter fare, very fun, very British. Grists art is still simple, cartoony, but has improved since those early Jack Staff stories. As a writer he still jumps around in the narrative, but not as much as he did in Staff. So that wasn't as bothersome. Recommended for those who like an old school style superhero comic.
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